NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/2/03 It was a mostly dry morning with light afternoon rain over the tops. Westerly winds did not contribute to any additional snow transport, while the surface layer is rain soaked. The snowpack stability is generally good with isolated pockets of loose snow instability. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/2/03 The moderate rain overnight and South-Westerly winds will not significantly change the snowpack stability. Falling temperatures with snow showers on Westerly winds will contribute to some build up on East aspects above 800 metres. In the cooling temperatures the new snow will bond well to the underlying surface. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still areas of good cover on plateau. ICING: Looking forward to cooler temperatures. COMMENT: Some but not all easy gullies still complete. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/2/03 The wet conditions are continuing to thaw the snowpack at all levels. Wet snow instabilities persist within the snowpack, particularly on steep slope inclinations. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/2/03 Rain will continue overnight followed by snow showers and SW to W winds during Sunday. The existing wet snowpack will re-freeze and become stable. Fresh areas of windslab will form as the snow showers arrive during Sunday. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of NE, E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels ICING: Becoming cold again on Sunday. COMMENT: Things can only get better. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/2/03 The continuing mild conditions with rain has thoroughly moistened the snowpack at all levels. Deep drifts of wet snow still exist in sheltered gullies on many aspects but mainly on slopes facing North-East to South above 700m. Bonding is moderate to poor where these deposits lie on steeper ground. Cornices are becoming wet and heavy and are prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/2/03 Further heavy rain and mild conditions with gale force SW winds will affect the area during Saturday night. During Sunday snow showers above 800m and moderate Westerly winds. The wet snow instabilities will start to consolidate in the cooler temperatures with fresh deposits of new snow adhering well at first. New deposits are not expected to be significant. Some deep layered deposits may form mainly on slopes with a North through to East aspect and in areas such as sheltered summit gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 650 metres. ICING: Thawing ice above 700m. COMMENT: Becoming a little colder with snow showers above 800m. Conditions improving slightly. Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/2/03 The mild conditions have continued to thaw the snowpack at all levels. Surface layers are wet but in deeper locations cool dry snow still exists within the snowpack. In steeper sheltered locations on mainly E to S aspects above 900 metres wet surface layers are moderately bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/2/03 Thaw conditions overnight will be followed by a drop in freezing levels and some snow showers. Most aspects above 950 metres will receive light snowfall. On steeper slopes on E to S aspects above 900 metres wet surface layers will remain moderately well bonded with the cooler temperatures starting to refreeze them. Elsewhere the patchy snow will be generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover, mainly on S to E aspects. ICING: Nothing of note observed. COMMENT: Freezing level will be around 950 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/2/03 It has remained very mild with the freezing level above the summits and heavy rain showers driven on a strong South-West wind. The thaw has continued, stripping exposed ridges bare and leaving the most snow in gullies and hollows on East through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres. In general open slopes consist of moderately well bonded wet slab which is beginning to settle down. Due mainly to hazard of cornice collapse the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/2/03 Overnight it will gradually become colder with South-West winds calming and swinging to the West. The surviving snowpack will benefit greatly from this freeze and become reasonably well bonded and stable on aspects. However a band of snow showers will cross the region, so shallow and isolated soft slab will form at the very tops of sheltered gullies on North- East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Melting rapidly. Bare on exposed ridges. Still deep in drifts. ICING: Very poor. It's too mild. Hopefully improving next week. COMMENT: Soggy but bogtastic ski touring still possible with a bit of clever route finding! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------